Vehicle wheel



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,703

J. H. WAGENHORST VEHI'CLE WHEEL Original Filed July 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,703

J. H, WAGENHORST VEHICLE WHEEL I I Original Filed July 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIII/I/IIII/IIII/Il 7IIIIII/I/II/IIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

' 4'11 TTORNEYJJ Patented 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nuns H. wasmmonsr, or .mcxson, mommy.

vnmcu: wmam.

Original application filed July 17, 1924, Serial No. 726,5. Divided and this application filed April 8,

1927. Serial No. 180,476.

My present invention relates to vehicle wheels, and has to do more particularly with the construction of wheels intended for use upon automobiles and for carrying a resilient tire, preferably, of the pneumatic type. This application is a division of my co-pending application for Letters Patent for imrovements in vehicle wheels, Serial No.

26,529, filed July 17th, 1924.

The widespread use of balloon tires, or.

tires of larger cross-section than those heretofore-used on automobiles of corresponding site and weight, has resulted in a considerable decrease in the diameter and an increase in the width of the demountable rims. The result of this change is that the rims now used for tires of the balloon type, are considerably stifi'er andstronger than the rims heretofore used, for automobiles of corresponding size and weight. Coincident with the widespread adoption of balloon tires has been the use on many automobiles of fourwheel braking systems necessitatingthe mounting of brake drums on front as well 5 as rear hubs. These changes have resulted in a marked increase inthe unsprung weight on the front axle, which increase has been so noticeable, in some cases, as to require the redesign of the axle to strengthen it.

' In connection with these changes, the old practice has heretofore been followed, how ever, in the design and manufacture of the wheels, and the wheels are heavier and more expensive than they need to be, and contribute'unnecessarily to the unsprung weight on the front axle. Themain object of my present invention is to provide an improved wheel construction, in which" the weight of the wheel shall be kept as low as possible, and'the total cost of the wheel, including the-brakedrum, reduced considerably, without weakening it so that it will not adequately withstand theforces, such as load, sidethrust, and torque, imposed upon the structure. With that end in view, I proose to provide a construction in which the rakedrum constitutes the body of the Wheel, and the tire-carrying rim is detachably con nected to the brakedrum by means of relatively short spoke m-embers, or lugs, rigidly secured to the rim and detachably connectedto the brakedrum.

It is an object of my invention toprovide a. wheel construction in which the load, sidethrust, and torque are transmitted through the brakedrum from hub to rim, or vice yersa, and in which the tire-carrying rim is detachably connected to the drum by s oke members rigidly secured to the rim an interlocked with the brakedrum so that these forces may be adequately transmitted.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a wheel construction having relatively short spoke members rigidly secured to the rim and detachably connected to the brakeclrum, ofsuch construction that they can be manufactured very cheaply, add little to the weight, may be cheaply and quickly secured to the rim, and have ample strengt to withstand the stresses exertedupon them,

and to transmit such stresses from rim to brakedrum, or vice versa.

Further objects, and objects relating to 'details and economies of construction and operation, will definitely appear from-the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

vation of a portion of the brakedrum showing a bolt hole and the inclined slots which {)eceive' projecting portions of a spoke mem- In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings, which illustrate a referred embodiment of myinvention, I ave shown a brakedrum 10, connected to a hub in any suitable manner. The side wall of the brakedrum has a plurality of bolt holes 38',

.formed therein, adjacent the periphery and The tire carrying rim 11,0f the usual construction, which is shown 'as provided with straight side flanges, but may, of course, have clincher flanges, or be of the Q, D. type, if desired, has a plurality of relatively s ort spoke members 30, rigidly secured to the base of the rim. These spoke members may be of pressed metal and of channel formation, in order to give them adequate strength to withstand the stresses acting upon them. The outer portion of each spoke member is extended at 32, along the inner face of the rim base, and rigidly secured to the latter. The inner end of each spoke member has inclined or converging side walls 31, provided with projecting portions 39 which fit in the converging slots 38. A securing bolt 34 extends through the bolt hole 38'. and through a bolt hole 34', formed in the spoke member. The nut 35, screwed on the end of the bolt 34, engages the spoke member and clamps it against the side wall of the brakedrum with the projections 39 seated in interlocking engagement in the SlOlLS 38'. V

' This forms a relatively inexpensive con"- struction, in which the tire-carrying rim is detachably connected to the brakedrum, by means of the spoke members which are rigidly secured to the rim, and detachably connected to the brakedrum. These spoke members are of such formation as to transmit effectively the load, sidethrust, and torque,

which forces are transmitted through them from the rim to the brakedrum, or vice versa. The engagement of the projections 39 in the -slots 38 results in the transmission of such forces directl from the spoke members to the drum an this is more effective than if such forces were transmitted through the securing bolt because of the tendency for such a bolt to enlarge the bolt hole by wear, thus permitting play in the connection. In my construction, the stresses are taken from the bolt by the direct ment between the spoke member and the and the bolt serves merely to clamp the parts together. It will be observed that, in this wheel of my invention, the only weight in addition to that of the brakedrum and rim, is the weight of the relatively small and short spoke members attached to the rim, and the nuts and bolts by which these kes are detachabl connected to the brakxnn. The weight o f them parts .is much less than the weight of the usual spoke and folly construction, used heretofore with the brakedrum, in wheels in which the load, sidethrust, and torque are from nm to hub, or vice versa,

throughthefellyandspohaconstrudaons,

instead of being transmitted directly through the brakedrum, as in my improved wheel.

I am aware that this construction mag be varied considerably without de arting cm the spirit of my invention, an therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum having openings formed in the side wall thereof, a tire-carrying rim, :1 plurality of spoke members rigidly secured to said rim and having projections on their inner ends interlocking in said openings, and means for detachably connecting the inner ends of said spoke members to the brakedrum.

2. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum having a plurality of pairs of openings formed in the side wall thereof, a tire-carrying rim, a plurality of spoke members rigidly secured to said rim and having pairs of projections on their inner ends interlocking in said openings, and means for detachably connecting the inner ends of said spoke members to the brakedrum.

3. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum having openings formed in the side wall thereof, a tire-carrying rim, 8. lu-

rality of spoke members rigidly to said rim and having projections on their inner ends interlocking in said openings bolts extending though the side wall of said brakedrum adjacent the o gs, and nuts screwed on said bolts an clamping the inner ends of the spoke members in interlocking engagement with said brakedrum.

4. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum having a pluralitv of pairs of openings formed in the side wall thereof, a tire-carryin rim, a plurality of spoke members rigi y secured to said rim and having pairs of projections on their inner ends interlocking in said openin bolts extending through the side wall 0 the brakedrum between the openings of the resipective pairs, and nuts screwed'on said he ts and clampin the inner ends of said spoke members in interlocking engagement with said wbrakedrum.

5. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum having a plurality of of slots in the side wall thereof and bolt holes located between the slots of each paair, a tirecarrying rim, a plur of spo members rigidly secured to the nm,'the inner end of each spoke member ha projections interlocking in the co 11 slots, bolts extending through bolt holes and spoke members, and nuts screwed on said bolts and clamping the inner ends of said spoke mom bers in interlocking engagement with the brakedrum.

6. A, wheelcomprising the combination of a brakedrum having a plurality of pairs of Ill oppositely inclined slots in the side wall thereof and bolt holes located between the slots of each air, a tire-carrying rim, a lurality of spo e members rigidly secure to the rim, the inner end of each spoke member having oppositely inclined projections interlocking in the correspondi'n slots, bolts extending through said bolt holes and spokemembers, and nuts screwed on said bolts and clamping the inner ends of said spoke members in interlocking engagement with the brakedrum.

7. A wheel comprising the combination of a brakedrum havinga plurality of pairs of rough said-bolt holes and spoke members,

and nuts screwed on said bolts and clamping the-inner ends of said spoke members in interlocking engagement with the brakedrum.

JAMES H. WAGENHORST. I 

